The Ear of The Ear

The Kena Upanishad, Part 1, Verse 3 with Shankara’s Commentary.

na tatra cakṣurgacchati na vāggacchati no mano na vidmo na vijānīmo yathaitadanuśiṣyādanyadeva tadviditādatho aviditādadhi | 
iti śuśruma pūrveṣāṃ ye nastadvyācacakṣire || 3 ||
The eye does not go there, nor speech, nor mind. We do not know That. We do not know how to instruct one about It. It is distinct from the known and above the unknown. We have heard it so stated by preceptors who taught us that. 

Shankara’s Commentary:

For the reason that the Brahman is the ear of the ear, i.e., the Atman of all. the eye cannot go to the Brahman; for it is not possible to go to one’s own self. Similarly speech does not go there. When a word spoken by the mouth enlightens the object denoted by it, then the word is said to go to that object. But the Atman of that word and of the organ that utters it is the Brahman. So the word does not go there. Just as fire that burns and enlightens things does not either enlighten or burn itself, so the mind, which wills and determines in respect of external objects, cannot will or determine in respect of its self, because its Atman is also the Brahman. A thing is cognised by the senses and the mind. We do not, therefore, know the Brahman, because it cannot be an object of perception to these; and we do not, therefore, know what the Brahman is like, so as to allow us to enlighten the disciple about the Brahman. Whatever can be perceived by the senses, it is possible to explain to others by epithets denoting its class, its attributes and modes of activity; but the Brahman has no attributes of class, etc. It, therefore, follows that it is not possible to make the disciple believe in the Brahman by instruction. The portion of the text beginning with ‘Navidmah’ (we do not know) shows the necessity of putting forth great exertion in the matter of giving instruction and understanding it, in respect of the Brahman. Considering that the previous portion of the text leads to the conclusion that it is impossible by any means to instruct one about the Atman, the following exceptional mode is pointed out. Indeed it is true that one cannot be persuaded to believe in the Brahman by the evidence of the senses and other inodes of proof; but it is possible to make him believe by the aid of Agamas (Scriptures). Therefore the preceptor recites Agamas for the purpose of teaching about the Brahman and says: ‘It is something distinct from the known and something beyond the unknown, etc.’ ‘Anyat,’ ‘something distinct’; ‘Tat,’ ‘the present theme i.e., that which has been defined to be the ear of the ear, etc., and beyond their (ear. eye, etc.,) reach. That is certainly distinct from the known. ‘The known,’ means ‘whatever is the object of special knowledge;’ and as all such objects can be known somewhere, to some extent and by some one and so forth, the whole (manifested universe) is meant by the term ‘the known;’ the drift is, that the Brahman is distinct from this. But lest the Brahnan should be confounded with the unknown, the text says: ‘It is beyond the Unknown.’ ‘Aviditat’ means ‘something opposed to the known;’ hence, unmanitested illusion (avidya) the seed of all manifestation. ‘Adhi’ literally means ‘above’ but is here used in the derivative sense of ‘something different from for, it is well known that one thing placed above another is something distinct from that other.

Parashurama Sahasranama

From Agni Purana

|| shree parashuraama sahasranaama ||

om raamah shreemaan mahaavishNuh
bhaargavo jamadagnijaha |
tattvaroopee param brahma shaashvatah sarvashaktidhruk ||
vareNyo varadah sarvasiddhidah kanjalochanaha |
raajendrashcha sadaachaaro jaamadagnyah paraatparaha || 2 ||
paramaarthaika nirato jitaamitro janaardanaha |
rushipravara vandyashcha daantah shatru vinaashanaha || 3 ||
sarvakarmaa pavitrashcha cha adeeno deenasaadhakaha |
abhivaadyo mahaaveerah tapasvee niyamapriyaha || 4 ||
svayambhooh sarvaroopashcha sarvaatmaa sarvadruk prabhuhu |
eeshaanah sarvadevaadih vareeyaan sarvago achyutaha || 5 ||
sarvagyah sarvavedaadi sharaNyah parameshvaraha |
gyaanabhaavyo pariChedyah shuchih vaagmee prataapavaan ||
jitakrodho guDaakesho dyutimaan arimardanaha |
reNukaatanayah saakshaat ajito avyaya eva cha || 7 ||
vipulaamso mahorasko ateendro vandyo dayaanidhihi |
anaadih bhagavaan indrah sarvalokaa arimardanaha || 8 ||
satyah satyavratah satyasandhah paramadhaarmikaha |
lokaatmaa lokakrut lokavandyah sarvamayo nidhihi || 9 ||
vashyo dayaa sudheergoptaa dakshah sarvaikapaavanaha |
brahmaNyo brahmachaaree cha brahma brahmaprakaashakaha ||
sudaro ajinavaasaah cha brahmasootradharah samaha |
saumyo maharshih shaantashcha maunjeebhrut danDadhaarakaha || 11 ||
kodanDee sarvajit kshatra darpahaa puNyavardhanaha |
kavih brahmarshee varadah kamanDaludharah krutee || 12 ||
mahodaaro atulo bhaavyo jitashaDvarga manDalaha |
kaantah puNyah sukeertishcha dvibhujah cha aadipurushaha ||
akalmasho duraaraadhyah sarvaavaasah krutaagamaha |
veeryavaan smitabhaashee cha nivruttaatmaa punarvasuhu ||
aadhyaatmayoga kushalah sarvaayudha vishaaradaha |
yagyasvaroopee yagyesho yagyapaalah sanaatanaha || 15 ||
ghanashyaamah smrutih shooro jaraamaraNavarjitaha |
dheero daantah suroopashcha sarvateerthamayo vidhihi || 16 ||
varNee varNaashramaguruh sarvajit purusho avyayaha |
shivashikshaaparo yuktah paramaatmaa paraayaNaha || 17 ||
pramaaNaroopo durgyeyah poorNah kroorah ruturvibhuhu |
aanando atha guNashreshTho anantadrushTeeh guNaakaraha ||
dhanurdharo dhanurvedah sacchidaananda vigrahaha |
janeshvaro vineetaatmaa mahaakaayah tapasviraaT || 19 ||
akhilaadyo vishvakarmaa vineetaatmaa vishaaradaha |
aksharah keshavah saakshee mareechih sarvakaamadaha || 20 ||
kalyaaNah prakrutih kalpah sarveshah purushottamaha |
lokaadhyaksho gabheero atha sarvabhakta varapradaha || 21 ||
jyotih aanandaroopashcha vahneerakshaya aashramee |
bhoorbhuvah svah tapomoorteeh ravih parashudhruk svaraaT ||
bahushrutah satyavaadee bhraajishNuh sahanobalaha |
sukhadah kaaranam bhoktaa bhavabandha vimokshakrut || 23 ||
samsaarataarako netaa sarvaduhkha vimokshakrut |
deva chooDaamaNih kundah sutapaa brahmavardhanaha || 24 ||
nityo niyata kalyaaNah shuddhaatmaa atha puraatanaha |
duhsvapna naashano neetih kireeTee skanda darpahrut || 25 ||
arjunapraaNahaa veerah sahasrabhuja jitadhaareehi |
kshatriyaantakarah shoorah kshitibhaara karaantakrut || 26 ||
parashvadhadharo dhanvee reNukaa vaakya tatparaha |
veerahaa vishamo veerah pitruvaakya paraayaNaha || 27 ||
maatrupraaNada eeshashcha dharmatattva vishaaradaha |
pitrukrodhaharah krodhah saptajihva samaprabhaha || 28 ||
svabhaavabhadrah shatrughnah sthaaNuh
shambhushcha keshavaha |
sthavishThah sthaviro baalah sookshmo lakshyadyutirmahaan ||
brahmachaaree vineetaatmaa rudraakshavalayah sudheehi |
akshakarNah sahasraamshuh deeptah kaivalya tatparaha || 30 ||
aadityah kaalarudrashcha kaalachakra pravartakaha |
kavachee kunDalee khaDgee chakree bheema paraakramaha ||
mrutyunjayo veerasimho jagadaatmaa jagatguruhu |
amrutyuh janmarahitah kaalagyaanee mahaapaTuhu || 32 ||
nishkalanko guNagraamo anirviNNah smararoopadhruk |
anivedyah shataavarto daNDo damayitaa damaha || 33 ||
pradaanah taarako dheemaamsa tapasvee bhootasaarathihi |
ahah samvatsaro yogee samvatsarakaro dvijaha || 34 ||
shaashvato lokanaathashcha cha shaakhee
daNDee balee jaTee |
kaalayogee mahaanandah tigmamanyuh suvarchasaha || 35 ||
amarshaNo marshaNaatmaa prashaantaatmaa hutaashanaha |
sarvavaasaah sarvachaaree sarvaadhaaro virochanaha || 36 ||
haimo hemakaro dharmo durvaasaa vaasavo yamaha |
ugratejaa mahaatejaa jayo vijayah kaalajit || 37 ||
sahsrahasto vijayo durdharo yagyabhaagabhuk |
agnirjvaalee mahaajvaalah tvatidhoomo huto havihi || 38 ||
svastidah svastibhaagashcha mahaana bharga paro yuvaa |
mahaapaado mahaahasto bruhatkaayo mahaayashaaha || 39 ||
mahaakaTih mahaagreevo mahaabaahuh mahaakaraha |
mahaanaaso mahaakambuh mahaamaayah payonidhihi || 40 ||
mahaavakshaa mahoujaashcha mahaakesho mahaajanaha |
mahaamoordhaa mahaamaatro mahaakarNo mahaahanuhu ||
vrukshaakaaro mahaaketuh mahaadamshTro mahaamukhaha |
ekaveero mahaaveero vasudah kaalapoojitaha || 42 ||
mahaameghah ninaadee cha mahaaghosho mahaadyutihi |
shaivah shaivaagamaachaaree haihayaanaam kulaantakaha ||
sarvaguhyamayo vajree bahulah karmasaadhanaha |
kaamee kapih kaamapaalah kaamadevah krutaagamaha || 44 ||
panchavimshati tattvagyah sarvagyah sarvagocharaha |
lokanetaa mahaanaadah kaalayogee mahaabalaha || 45 ||
asankhyeyo aprameyaatmaa veeryakrut veeryakovidaha |
vedavedyo viyadgoptaa sarvaa amara muneeshvaraha || 46 ||
sureshah sharaNam sharma shabdabrahma sataamgatihi |
nirlepo nishraprapanchaatmaa nirvyagro vyagranaashanaha ||
shuddhah pootah shivaarambhah sahasrabhujajit harihi |
niravadya padopaaya siddhidah siddhisaadhanaha || 48 ||
chaturbhujo mahaadevo vyooDharasko janeshvarah |
dyutimaNih taraNih dhanyah kaartaveerya balaapahaa || 49 ||
lakshmaNaagrajah vandyashcha naro naaraayaNa priyah |
ekam jyotih niraatanko matsyaroopee janapriyaha || 50 ||
supreetah sumukhah sookshmah koormo vaaraahakah tathaa |
vyaapako naarasimhashcha balajit madhusoodanaha || 51 ||
aparaajitah sarvasaho bhooshaNo bhootavaahanah |
nivruttah samvruttah shilpee kshudrahaa nityasundaraha ||
stavyah stavapriyah stotaa vyaasamoortih anaakulaha |
prashaantabuddhih akshudrah sarvasattva avalambanah || 53 ||
paramaarthaguruh devo maalee samsara saarathihi |
raso rasagyah saaragyah kankaNeekruta vaasukihi || 54 ||
krushNah krushNastuto dheero maayaateeto vimatsaraha |
maheshvaro maheebhartaa shaakalyah sharvareepatihi || 55 ||
taTasthah karNadeekshaadah suraadhyakshah suraarihaa |
dhyeyo agradhuryo dhaatreesho ruchih tribhuvaneshvaraha ||
karmaadhyaksho niraalambah sarvakaamyah phalapradaha |
avyaktalakshaNo vyakto vyakta avyakto vishaampatihi || 57 ||
trilokaatmaa trilokesho jagannaatho janeshvaraha |
brahmaa hamsashcha rudrashcha srashTaa hartaa chaturmukhaha || 58 ||
nirmado nirahankaaro bhruguvamshodvahah shubhaha |
vedhaa vidhaataa druhiNo devagyo devachintanaha || 59 ||
kailaasa shikharavaasee braahmaNo braahmaNa priyaha |
artho anartho mahaakesho jyeshThah shreshThah shubhaakrutihi || 60 ||
baaNaarih damou yajvaa snigdhaprakrutih agniyaha |
varasheelo varaguNah satyakeertih krupaakaraha || 61 ||
sattvavaan saattviko dharmee buddhah kalkee sadaashrayaha |
darpaNo darpahaa darpaa ateeto druptah pravartakaha || 62 ||
amrutaasho amrutavapuh vaanmayah sadasanmayaha |
nidhaanagarbho bhooshaayee kapilo vishvabhojanaha || 63 ||
prabhavishNuh grasishNushcha chaturvarga phalapradaha |
naarasimho mahaabheemah sharabhah kalipaavanaha || 64 ||
ugrah pashupatih bhargo vaidyah kesheenishoodanaha |
govindo gopatirgoptaa gopaalo gopavallabhaha || 65 ||
bhootaavaaso guhaavaasah satyavaasah shrutaagamaha |
nishkanTakah sahasraarchih snigdhah prakruti dakshiNaha ||
akampito guNagraahee supreetah preetivardhanaha |
padmagarbho mahaagarbho vajragarbho jalodbhavaha || 67 ||
gabhastih brahmakrud brahma raajaraajah svayambhavaha |
senaaneeh agraNee saadhuh balastaalikaro mahaan || 68 ||
pruthivee vaayuh aapashcha tejah kham bahulochanaha |
sahasramoordhaa devendrah sarvaguhyamayo guruhu || 69 ||
avinaashee sukhaaraamah trilokee praaNadhaarakaha |
nidraaroopam kshamaa tandraa dhrutih
medhaa svadhaa havihi || 70 ||
hotaa netaa shivah traataa saptajihvo vishuddhapaat |
svaahaa havyashcha kavyashcha
shataghnee shatapaashadhrut || 71 ||
aarohashcha nirohashcha teertha teerthakaro haraha |
charaacharaatmaa sookshmahtu vivasvaan savitaamrutam ||
tushTeeh pushTeeh kalaa kaashThaa maasah pakshah tu vaasaraha |
rutuh yugaadi kaalah tu lingam aatmaa atha shaashvataha ||
chiranjeevee prasannaatmaa nakulah praaNadhaaraNaha |
svargadvaaram prajaadvaaram mokshadvaaram trivishTapam ||
bhuktih lakshmeeh tathaa muktih virajaa virajaambaraha |
vishvakshetram sadaabeejam puNya shravaNa keertanaha ||
bhikshuh bhaikshyam gruham daaraa yajamaanashcha yaachakaha |
pakshee cha pakshavaahashcha manovego nishaacharaha ||
gajahaa daityahaa naakah puroohutah purushTutaha |
baandhavo bandhuvargashcha pitaa maataa sakhaa sutaha ||
gaayatree vallabhah praamshuramaan
dhaataa bhoota bhaavanaha |
siddhaarthakaaree sarvaarthadah Chando
vyaakaraNam shrutihi || 78 ||
smrutih gaatha upashaantashcha puraaNah
praaNa chanchuraha |
vaamanashcha jagatkaalah sakrutashcha yugaadhipaha || 79 ||
udgeetah praNavo bhaanuh skando vaishravaNah tathaa |
antaraatmaa hrusheekeshah padmanaabhah stutipriyaha ||
parashvadhaayudhah shaakhee simhagah simhavaahanaha |
simhanaadah simhadamshTro nago mandaradhruk sharaha ||
sahyaachalanivaasee cha mahendrakruta samshrayah |
manobuddhih ahankaarah kamalaananda vardhanaha || 82 ||
sanaatanatamah sragvee gadee shankhee rathaangabhrut |
nireeho nirvikalpashcha samartho anartha naashanaha || 83 ||
akaayo bhakti kaayashcha maadhavo atha suraarchitaha |
yoddhaa jetaa mahaaveeryah shankarah santatah stutaha ||
vishveshvaro vishvamoortih vishvaraamo atha vishvakrut |
aajaanubaahuh sulabhah param jyotih sanaatanaha || 85 ||
vaikuNThah puNDareekaakshah sarvabhootaashaya sthitaha |
sahasrasheershaa purushah sahasraakshah sahasrapaat || 86 ||
oordhvaretaa oordhvalinga pravaro varado varaha |
unmattaveshah pracChannah saptadveepamahi pradaha || 87 ||
dvijadharma pratishThaataa vedaatmaa vedakrucChrayaha |
nityah sampoorNa kamaashcha sarvagyah kushalaagamaha ||
krupaa peeyoosha jaladhih dhaataa kartaa paraaptparaha |
achalo nirmalah truptah sve mahimni pratishThitaha || 89 ||
asahaayah sahaayashcha jagaddhetura kaaraNaha |
mokshadah keertishchaiva prerakah keerti naayakaha || 90 ||
adharmashatruh akshobhyo vaamadevo mahaabalaha |
vishvaveeryo mahaaveeryo shreenivaasah sataamgatihi || 91 ||
svarNavarNo varaangashcha sadyogee cha dvijottamaha |
nakshatramaalee surabhih vimalo vishva paavanaha || 92 ||
vasanto maadhavo greeshmo nabhasyo beeja vaahanaha |
nidaaghah tapano megho nabho yonih paraasharaha || 93 ||
sukhaanilah sunishpannah shishiro naravaahanaha |
shreegarbhah kaaraNam japyo durgah satyaparaakramaha ||
aatmabhooh aniruddhashcha dattatreyah trivikramaha |
jamadagnih balanidhih pulastyah pulaho anigaraaha || 95 ||
varNee varNaguruh chaNDah kalpavrukshah kalaadharaha |
mahendro durbharah siddho yogaachaaryo bruhaspatihi || 96 ||
niraakaaro vishuddhashcha vyaadhihartaa niraamayaha |
amogho anishTamathano mukundo vigatajvaraha || 97 ||
svayamjyotih guroottamah suprasaado achalah tathaa |
chandrah sooryah shanih ketuh bhoomijah somanandanaha ||
bhruguh mahaatapaa deerghatapaa siddho mahaaguruhu |
mantree mantrayitaa mantro vaagmee vasumanaah sthiraha ||
adrih adrishayo shambhuh maangalyo mangalovrutaha |
jayastambho jagatstambho bahuroopo guNottamaha || 100 ||
sarvadevamayo achintyo devaatmaa viroopadhruk |
chaturvedah chaturbhaavah chaturah chaturapriyaha || 101 ||
aadyantashoonyo vaikuNThah karmasaakshee phalapradaha |
druDhaayudhah skandaguruh parameshThee paraayaNaha ||
kuberabandhuh shreekaNTho deveshah sooryataapanaha |
alubdhah sarvashaastragyah shaastraarthah paramah pumaan ||
agnyaasyah pruthiveepaado dyumoordhaa dikshrutih paraha |
somaantah karaNo brahmamukhah kshatrabhujah tathaa ||
vaishyoroo shoodrapaadah tu nadee sarvaanga sandhikaha |
jeemootakesho abdhi kukshih tu vaikunTho
vishTarashravaaha || 105 ||
kshetragyah tamasah paaree bhruguvamshodbhavo avanihi |
aatmayoni raiNukeyo mahaadevo guru suraha || 106 ||
ekonaiko aksharah shreeshah shreepatih duhkhabheshajam |
hrusheekesho atha bhagavaana sarvaatmaa
vishvapaavanaha || 107 ||
vishvakarmaa apavargo atha lambodara shareeradhruk |
akrodho adroha mohashcha sarvato anantadhruk tathaa || 108
kaivalyadeepah kaivalyah saakshee chetaa vibhaavasuhu |
ekaveeraatmajo bhadro abhadrahaa kaiTabhaardanaha || 109 ||
vibudho agravarah shreshThah sarvadevottamottamaha |
shivadhyaanarato divyo nityayogee jitendriyaha || 110 ||
karma satyam vratam chaiva bhakti anugraha krut harihi |
sargasthityantakrut raamo vidyaaraashih guroottamaha || 111 ||
reNukaapraaNalingam cha bhruguvamshyah shatakratuhu |
shrutimaan ekabandhushcha cha
shaantabhadrah samanjasaha || 112 ||
aadhyaatma vidyaa saarashcha kaalabhaksho vishrunkhalaha |
raajendro bhoopatih yogee nirmaayo nirguNo guNee || 113 ||
hiraNmayah puraaNashcha balabhadro jagatpradaha |
vedavedaanga paaragyah sarvakarmaa maheshvaraha || 114 ||

My post about Parashurama mythology - The Hidden Kindness of Parashurama

JAI PARASHURAM!

Shānti Mantras

1   om vān me manasi pratishthitā
mano me vāci pratishtitam-
āvir-āvīr-ma edhi
vedasya ma ānīsthah
shrutam me mā prahāsīh
anenādhītenāho-rātrān sandadhāmi
ritam vadishyāmi satyam vadishyāmi
tan mām-avatu tad-vaktāram-avatu
avatu mām avatu vaktāram-avatu vaktāram
  om shāntih shāntih shāntih

   2   om madhu vātā ritāyate
madhu ksharanti sindhavah
mādhvīr-nah santv’oshadhīh
madhu naktam-uto’shasi
madhumat pārthivam rajah
madhu dyaur-astu nah pitā
madhumān no vanaspatir-
madhumām astu sūryah
mādhvīr-gāvo bhavantu nah
  om shāntih shāntih shāntih

   3   om sham no mitrah sham varunah
sham no bhavatv-aryamā
sham na indro brihaspatih
sham no vishnur-urukramah
namo brahmane namaste vāyo
tvameva pratyaksham brahmāsi
tvameva pratyaksham brahma vadishyāmi
ritam vadishyāmi satyam vadishyāmi
tan-mām-avatu tad-vaktāram-avatu
avatu mām avatu vaktāram
  om shāntih shāntih shāntih

   4   om agne naya supathā rāye asmān
vishvāni deva vayunāni vidvān
yuyodhy'asmaj juhurānam eno
bhūyishthām te nama uktim vidhema
  om shāntih shāntih shāntih

   5   om āpyāyantu  mamāngāni
vāk prānash-cakshuh  shrotram-
atho  balam-indriyāni  ca  sarvāni
sarvam  brahmau' panishadam
māham  brahma  nirākuryām
mā  mā  brahma  nirākarod-
anirākaranam-astv'anirākaranam  me'stu
tad  ātmani  nirate  ya  upanishatsu
dharmās-te  mayi  santu  te  mayi  santu
  om shāntih  shāntih  shāntih

   6   om sarvas-taratu durgāni
sarvo bhadrāni pashyatu
sarvas sadbuddhim-āpnotu
sarvah sarvatra nandatu
  om shāntih shāntih shāntih

   7   om durjanah sajjano bhūyāt
sajjanah shāntim-āphunyāt
shānto mucyeta bandhebhyo
muktash-cānyān vimocayet
  om shāntih shāntih shāntih

   8   om svasti prajābhyah paripāla yantām
nyāyena mārgena mahīm mahīshāh
go-brāhmanebhyah shubham-astu nityam
lokāh samastāh sukhino bhavantu

kāle varshatu parjanyah
prithivī sasya-shālinī
desho-’yam kshobha-rahitah
brāhmanās-santu nirbhayāh
  om shāntih shāntih shāntih

 9   om saha nāv’avatu
saha  nau  bhunaktu
saha  vīryam  karavāvahai
tejasvi-nāv’adhītam-astu
mā  vidvishāvahai
  om shāntih  shāntih  shāntih

 10   om dyauh shāntir-antarīksham shāntih prithivī shāntir-
āpah shāntir-oshadhayah shāntir-vanaspatayah shāntir- vishve-devāh shāntir-brahma shāntih sarvam shāntih
shāntir-eva shāntih sā mā shāntir-edhi
  om shāntih shāntih shāntih

 11   om bhadram karnebhih shrinuyāma devā
bhadram pashyemā-kshabhir-yajatrāh
sthirair-angais-tushtuvāmsas-tanūbhir-
vyashema devahitam yad-āyuh
  om shāntih shāntih shāntih

 12   om svasti na indro vriddha-shravāh
svasti nah pūshā vishva-vedāh
svasti nas-tārkshyo’rishtanemih
svasti no brihaspatir-dadhātu
  om shāntih shāntih shāntih

 13   om sarveshām svasti bhavatu
sarveshām shāntir-bhavatu
sarveshām pūrnam bhavatu
sarveshām mangalam bhavatu
  om shāntih shāntih shāntih

 14   om sarve bhavantu sukhinah
sarve santu nirāmayāh
sarve bhadrāni pashyantu
mā kashcit duhkha bhāg bhavet
  om shāntih shāntih shāntih

 15   om asato mā  sad gamaya
tamaso mā jyotir-gamaya
mrityor-mā amritam gamaya
  om shāntih shāntih shāntih

 16   om pūrnam-adah pūrnam-idam
pūrnāt pūrnam-udacyate
pūrnasya pūrnam-ādāya
pūrnam-evāvashishyate
  om shāntih shāntih shāntih

In Front of Mirror

"If you prostrate youself a hundred times in front of a mirror, it never moves from its place. If any ugliness has appeared in the mirror, know that it is your own; do not despise the mirror. Hide the fault that you see on his face from him, because he is my friend. With the tongue of the heart, he says, “Surely, this is not possible.”

Now, O friend, you say, “Place the mirror into my hand so that I may look at it!” Yet I cannot find a pretext for this, nor can I deny your request; but i say in my own heart, “Let me find some pretext not to give you the mirror, because if I say that there is something wrong with your face, perhaps you will not accept it; and if you say that the mirror is defective, this will be worse for you.” Yet love does not allow me to find a pretext. Now I say, “Let me give you the mirror, but if you see some fault on its face, do not blame the mirror, but something reflected onto the mirror. Know that it is your own image; find the fault in yourself! At least don’t look into the mirror while you are near me. The only condition is that you do not find fault with the mirror. If you are unable to find the fault in yourself, at least find fault with me, as i am the owner of the mirror. Don’t say the mirror is defective.”

“I accept the condition. I promise, I cannot wait any longer!” And yet his heart does not accept it....
But finally, after all these words, when he ws given the mirror, he, himself, just ran away. ...
the mirror was rebuking him with the tongue of its own heart: You see? What did I tell you? And what are you doing to me? You love yourself and find fault with the mirror. Because the one who loves his or her own ego respects only the ego, while the one who loves the mirror, gives up both ego and mirror.

The mirror is the Truth, Itself. He thinks the mirror is someone other than himself. The mirror answers anyone who addresses It. Due to the inclination of the mirror, he also has an inclination toward the mirror. If he, on the other hand, had broken the mirror, he would have broken me too. Hasn’t it been said, “I am near to those whose hearts have been broken”? In short, it is impossible for the mirror to bow down and honor itself. It is like a touchstone or a balance; it always inclines toward the Truth."

---from "The Conversations" (Maqalat) of Shams of Tabriz

Love of a Lifetime

Song: Love In A Life Time
Composed by Lowell Lo
Lyrics by Tang Shu Chen
Clip from the movie "Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons"(2013) 

Substance of My Complaint

Your hope in my heart is the rarest treasure
Your Name on my tongue is the sweetest word
My choicest hours
Are the hours I spend with You —

O God, I can't live in this world
Without remembering You–
How can I endure the next world
Without seeing Your face?

I am a stranger in Your country
And lonely among Your worshippers:
This is the substance of my complaint.

--- by Rabi'a al-Adawiyya

When the Sun Rises

As air becomes the medium for light when the sun rises,
And as wax melts from the heat of fire,
So the soul drawn to that light is resplendent,
Feels self melt away,
Its will and actions no longer its own.
So clear is the imprint of God
That the soul, conquered, is conqueror;
Annihilated, it lives in triumph.

What happens to the drop of wine
That you pour into the sea?
Does it remain itself, unchanged?
It is as if it never existed.
So it is with the soul: Love drinks it in,
It is united with Truth,
Its old nature fades away,
It is no longer master of itself.

The soul wills and yet does not will:
Its will belongs to Another.
It has eyes only for this beauty;
It no longer seeks to possess, as was its wont --
It lacks the strength to possess such sweetness.
The base of this highest of peaks
Is founded on nichil,
Shaped nothingness, made one with the Lord.

-- by Jacopone da Todi (1230 - 1306) 

Lead Me in the Way

Christ Carrying the Cross (detail) Painting by El Greco

A Psalm 139 from the Biblical Book of Psalms.

O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
[...] Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

About Locution

A mystical locution is a form of some religious interior revelation, heard or received internally by person. As with all claims of private revelation it is difficult but very important to be certain that a locution is authentic.

Excerpt about this from "The Interior Castle" by St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)

1. GOD arouses the soul in another manner which, though in some ways apparently a greater favour than the above mentioned, yet may prove more dangerous, therefore I will give some particulars about it. He does this by means of words addressed to the soul in many different ways; sometimes they appear to come from without; at other times from the inner depths of the soul; or again, from its superior part; while other speeches are so exterior as to be heard by the ears like a real voice.
[...]
6. Now let us return to the first point--whether these communications come from the inferior or the superior part of the soul, or from without, does not affect their originating from God.
7. In my opinion these are the most certain signs of their being divine. The first and truest is the power and authority they carry with them, for these words are operative. For example: a soul is suffering all the sorrow and disquiet I have described: the mind is darkened and dry; but it is set at peace, freed from all trouble and filled with light merely by hearing the words: 'Be not troubled.' These deliver it from all its pains, although it felt as though, if the whole world and all its theologians had united in trying to persuade it there was no cause for grief, it could not, in spite of all their efforts, have been delivered from its affliction.
8. Again, a person is troubled and greatly terrified at being told by her confessor and other people that her soul is under the influence of the evil one: she hears a single sentence which says, 'It is I, be not afraid,' 6 and is at once freed from all fears and filled with consolation; indeed, she believes it would be impossible for any one to disturb her confidence.
9. Again, when exceedingly anxious about important business, not knowing whether or not it will be successful, on hearing words bidding her  'Be at peace; all will go well,' she feels reassured and free from all care in the matter. 8 Many other instances of the same sort could be mentioned.
[...]
27. Those our Lord does not lead by this path may suppose that the soul can avoid listening to these locutions and that even if they are interior it is at least possible to distract the attention from them so as not to hear them and thus escape danger. This cannot be done: I am not speaking of freaks of fancy which may be prevented by ceasing to desire certain things or by paying no attention to its inventions. This is not feasible when these communications come from the Holy Ghost Who, when He speaks, stops all other thoughts and compels the mind to listen. Mark this: that I believe it would be easier for a person with very keen ears to avoid hearing a loud voice, for he could occupy his thoughts and mind in other things. Not so here; the soul can do nothing, nor has it ears to stop, nor power to think of aught but what is said to it. For He Who could stay the sun on its course (at the prayer of Josue, I believe) can so quiet the faculties and the interior of the spirit as to make it perceive that another and a stronger Lord than itself governs this castle; it is thus affected with profound devotion and humility, seeing that it cannot but listen. May the divine Majesty vouchsafe that, forgetting ourselves, our only aim may be to please Him, as I said.

Hanuman Mantras

Aum Anjaneyaye Vidmahe,
Mahabalaye Dhi-Mahi
Tanno Hanuman Prachodayat
Buddhir Balam Yasho Dhairyam
Nir Bhayatvam Arogata
Ajatyam Vak Patutvam Cha
Hanumat Smaranat Bhavet
By remembering Hanuman, one can gain wisdom, strength, success, courage, fearlessness, lack of ill health, lack of sluggishness, and Oratory skills.

Manoj-avam Maruti Tulya Vegam
Jitendriyam Bhudhi-mataam Varishtam
Vaataatmajam Vaanara-yoota-mukhyam
Sri Ramadootam Shirasaa Namami
I surrender to Hanuman, the messenger of Lord Rama, whose speed is as swift as the mind and as swift as the wind, who has controlled his sense organs and is the most intelligent among the intelligent ones; who is the son of Vayu and the chief of the monkey tribe.

Anjaneyam ati-paata-lananam
Kaanchanaadri Kamaneeya Vigraham
Paarijaata-tarumoola vasinam
Bhavayami pavamana nandanam
Anjana’s son, his face deep red,
His body shining like a golden mountain,
Dwelling always at the root of the Parijata tree,
On him, I meditate; the Wind-god’s son.

Yatra yatra Raghunatha Keertanam
Tatra tatra Krita mastakanjalim
Bhaashpa-vaari paripoorna lochanam
Marutim namada rakshasa-antakam
In all those nooks and corners, where the lord of Raghunath (Rama) is sung about, In all such nooks and corners is he (Hanuman), With tears flooding from the eyes, Salutations to my Lord Maruthi, He who saw the end of all evil ones.

See more Hanuman mantras by clicking on the label Hanuman

Five Gates by Daoxin

Know this: Buddha is this mind. Outside of this mind there is no Buddha. Briefly, I suggest that there are five basic principles.

First: Know the essence of mind. The essential nature is pure. The essence is itself Buddha.

Second: Know the function of mind. Its function gives rise to the jewel of Dharma. It functions without obstruction, but is always still; even the ten thousand delusions are in essence just this.

Third: Constant Awakening is without end. The Awakening mind is always present. The Teaching of this Awakening is without form.

Fourth: Always know the body is empty and tranquil. Inside and outside are transparent to each other. Your body arises in the midst of ultimate reality. There have never been obstacles.

Fifth: Keep unified-mindfulness without deviation. Both movement and stillness go nowhere.

Those who practice this will clearly see their Buddha-nature and enter into the gate of practice without hesitation.

---by the Fourth AncestorZen Patriarch Dayi Daoxin (580-651)

Shiva Mantra Ghanapatha

namastaaraaya taaraaya namo namastaaraaya namo nama staaraaya namo namastaaraaya namah |
taaraaya namo namastaaraaya taaraaya namashshambhave shambhave namastaaraaya taaraaya namashshambhave |
namashshambhave shambhave namo namashshambhave cha cha shambhave namo namashshambhave cha |
shambhave cha cha shambhave shambhave cha mayobhave mayobhave cha shambhave shambhave cha mayobhave |
shambhava iti sham-bhave |
cha mayo bhave mayobhave cha cha mayobhave cha cha mayobhave cha cha mayobhave cha |
mayobhave cha cha mayobhave mayobhave cha namo namashcha mayobhave mayobhave cha namaha |
mayobhava itimayah bhave
cha namo namashcha cha namashshankaraaya shankaraaya namashcha cha namashshankaraaya |
namashshankaraaya shankaraaya namo namashshankaraaya cha cha shankaraaya namo namashshankaraaya cha |
shankaraaya cha cha shankaraaya shankaraaya cha mayaskaraaya mayaskaraaya cha shankaraaya shankaraaya cha mayaskaraaya |
shankaraayetishaM-karaaya |
cha mayaskaraaya mayaskaraaya cha cha mayaskaraaya cha cha mayaskaraaya cha cha mayaskaraaya cha |
mayaskaraaya cha cha mayaskaraaya mayaskaraaya cha namo namashcha mayaskaraaya mayaskaraaya cha namah |
mayaskaraayeti mayah - karaaya |
cha namo namashcha cha namashshivaaya shivaaya namashcha cha namashshivaaya |
namashshivaaya shivaaya namo namashshivaaya cha cha shivaaya namo namashshivaaya cha |
shivaaya cha cha shivaaya shivaaya cha shivataraaya shivataraaya cha shivaaya shivaaya cha shivataraaya ||

om shaantih shaantih shaantihi ||

Surrender to Сhanges

"Instead of resisting to changes, surrender. Let life be with you, not against you. If you think ‘My life will be upside down’ don’t worry. How do you know down is not better than upside? A good man complains of no one; he does not look to faults. A life without love is of no account. Don't ask yourself what kind of love you should seek, spiritual or material, divine or mundane, eastern or western…divisions only lead to more divisions. Love has no labels, no definitions. It is what it is, pure and simple. Love is the water of life. And a lover is a soul of fire! The universe turns differently when fire loves water. The universe is a complete unique entity. Everything and everyone is bound together with some invisible strings. Do not break anyone’s heart; do not look down on weaker than you. One’s sorrow at the other side of the world can make the entire world suffer; one’s happiness can make the entire world smile. Most of conflicts and tensions are due to language. Don't pay so much attention to the words. In love’s country, language doesn't have its place. Love's mute."

---by Shams Tabrizi (1185–1248)

Her Rays

From the Tablet of the Maiden -- Baha'ul'lah (Tablet of the Houri translated by Juan R.I. Cole)

God hath purified the hem of Her purity from the knowledge of the concourse of names in the realm of eternity, and Her face from the view of all who are in the kingdom of creation. When She arose with the ornament of God from Her palace, She looked with one glance toward the sky. The people of the heavens swooned at the rays of Her visage and at the wafting of Her perfume. Then She looked with another glance toward the earth, and it was illumined by the lights of Her beauty and the loveliness of Her splendor.
Then I drew near, till She stood before my face and gave utterance as a dove warbles in the realm of eternity, as though speaking in the wondrous music that hath no words, letters or sounds. It is as though all books appeared in commentary on the songs of Her innovation.
[...] I raised my hand another time, and bared one of Her breasts that had been hidden beneath Her gown. Then the firmament was illumined by the radiance of its light, contingent beings were made resplendent by its appearance and effulgence, and by its rays infinite numbers of suns dawned forth, as though they trekked through heavens that were without beginning or end. <...> She moved upon the earth of essence in the substance of manifestation.

Devi Dhyanam

om hreem kaalaabhra aabhaam kaTaakshairarikula
abhayadaam moulibaddhendurekhaaM

shankha chakram krupaaNam trishikhamapi
karairudvahanteem trinetraam |

simha skandhaadhi rooDhaam tribhuvanam
akhilam tejasaa poorayanteem

dhyaayet durgaam jayaakhyaam tridasha parivrutaam
sevitaam siddhikaamai: ||

shree jaya durgaayai namah 

Guhyakali Mahavajra Kavacham

From Mahakala Samhita

om asya shree vishvamangala naamno guhyakaalee mahaavajra kavachasya
samvarta rushihi anushTup Chandaha ekavaktraadi shatavaktraantaa
guhyakaalee devataa
phrem beejam khphrem shaktih Chreem keelakam sarvaabheeshTa siddhipoorvaka
aatmarakshaNe jape viniyogaha |
om phrem paatu shirah siddhikaraalee kaalikaa mama |
hreem Chreem lalaaTam me siddhivikaraali sadaavatu || 1 ||
shreem kleem mukham chaNDayogeshvaree rakshatu sarvadaa |
hoom streem kNoum vajrakaapaalinee me kaalikaa avatu || 2 ||
aim kraum hanoo kaalasamkarshaNaa me paatu kaalikaa |
kreem kraum bhruvaavugrachaNDaa kaalikaa me sadaavatu ||
haam kshaum netre siddhilakshmeeravatu pratyaham mama |
hoom hraum naasaam chaNDakaapaalinee me sarvadaavatu ||
aam eem oshThaadharou paatu sadaa samayakubjikaa |
gloom glaum dantaan raajaraajeshvaree me
rakshataat sadaa ||
joom sah sadaa me rasanaam paatu shree jayabhairavee |
sphrem sphrem paatu svarNakooTeshvaree me
chibukam sadaa ||
bloom blaum kaNTham rakshatu me sarvadaa tumbureshvaree |
kshroo kshraum me raajamaatangee skandhou
rakshatu sarvadaa ||
phrom phraum bhujou vajrachaNDeshvaree rakshatu me sadaa |
sraim sraum vakshahsthalam paatu jayajhankeshvaree mama ||
phim phaam karou rakshatu me shivadootee cha sarvadaa |
Chraim Chraum me jaTharam paatu
phetkaaree ghoraraaviNee ||
straim straum guhyeshvaree naabhim mama rakshatu sarvadaa |
kshum kshaum paarshvaum sadaa paatu baabhravee ghoraroopiNee ||
groom graum kuleshvaree paatu mama
prushTham cha sarvadaa |
kloom klaum kaTim rakshatu me bheemaadevee bhayaanakaa ||
haim haum me rakshataadooru sarvadaa chaNDakhecharee |
sphrom sphraum me jaanunee paatu korangee bheeshaNaananaa || 12 ||
treem threem janghaayugam paatu taamasee sarvadaa mama |
jraim jraum paadou mahaavidyaa sarvadaa mama rakshatu||
Dreem Threem vaageeshvaree sarvaan
sandheen dehasya me avatu |
khraim khraum shareeradhaatoonme
kaamaakhyaa sarvadaavatu||
breem broom kaatyaayanee paatu dashavaayoomstanoodbhavaan |
jloom jlaum paatu mahaalakshmeeh
khaanyekaadasha sarvadaa ||
aim aum anoktam yatsthaanam shareere antarbahishcha me |
tatsarvam sarvadaa paatu harasiddhaa harapriyaa || 16 ||
phrem Chreem hreem streem hoom
shareerasakalam sarvadaa mama |
guhyakaalee divaaraatrou sandhyaasu parirakshatu || 17 ||
iti te kavacham proktam naamnaa cha vishvamangalam |
sarvebhyah kavachebhyastu shreshTham saarataram param ||
idam paThitvaa svam deham bhasma naiva avaguNThya cha |
tattat sthaaneshu vinyasya vaddhvaadah kavacham druDham ||
dashavaaraan manuh japtvaa yatra kutraapi gacChatu |
samare nipatacChastre araNye svaapada sankule || 20 ||
shmashaane pretabhootaaDhyakaantaare dasyusankule |
raajadvaare sapishune sindhou vaatormichanchale || 21 ||
girou daavaagni samdeepte gavhare sarpaveshTite |
tasya bheetarna kutraapi charatah pruthiveem imaam || 22 ||
na cha vyaadibhayam tasya naiva taskarajam bhayam |
bheetishcha grahajaa naasya vishajam cha bhayam nahi || 23 ||
na agni utpaato naiva bhootapretajah samkaTah tathaa |
vidyut varshopala bhayam na kadaapi prabhaadhate || 24 ||
na durbhikshabhayam chaasya na cha maaribhayam tathaa |
krutya abhichaarajaa doshaah sprushantyenam kadaapi na ||
sahasram japatashvaasya puraNashcharam uchyate |
tatkrutvaa tu prayanjeeta sarvasminnapi karmaNi || 26 ||
vashyakaarya mohane cha maaraNocchaaTane tathaa |
stambhane cha tathaa dveshe tathaa krutyaabhichaarayoh ||
durgabhamge tathaa yuddhe parachakra nivaaraNe |
etat prayogaat sarvaaNi kaaryaaNi parisaadhayet || 28 ||
bhootaavesham naashayati vivaade jayati dvishah |
samkaTam tarati kshipram kalahe jayam aapnuyaat || 29 ||
yadi icChet mahateem lakshmeem tanayaanaayureva cha |
vidyaam kaantim tathounnatyam yasha aarogyameva cha ||
bhogaan soukhyam vighna haanim aalasyam mahodayam |
adheehi kavacham nityamamunaamuncha cha priye || 31 ||
kavachenaam amunaa sarvam samsaadhayati saadhakah |
yadyad dhaayati chittena siddham tattapurah sthitam || 32 ||
durdhaTam ghaTayatyetat kavacham vishvamangalam |
vishvasya mangalam yasmaadato vai vishvamangalam || 33 ||
saannidhyakaarakam guhyakaalyaa etat prakeertitam |
likhitam ched gruhe tishThet tathaapi phalamashnute || 34 ||
yadeecChasi sureshaani sarvatra jayamangalam |
paTha bandhoon paaThayasva kavacham vishvamangalam ||
sampraapyasi paraam siddhim guhyaayaam bhaktimeva cha |
trisandhyam paThanaat devi sarvapaapaih pramuchyate || 36 ||
yasmai kasmai chidapyetanna dadyaadvai jijeevishuh |
dattvaa maraNam aapnoti sasuta gyaati baandhavah || 37 ||
shishyaaya bhaktiyuktaaya saadhakaaya hitaay cha |
vidhipoorvam pradaatavyam naabhaktaaya kadaachana || 38 ||
shaDaamnaaya sthitaa devyah sarvaa atra pratishThitaah |
atah sarvaatmaa gopyam satyam satyam sureshvari || 39 ||
yasmin kasminnapi manaavupadesho yadi priye |
tadaivaatraadhikaarah syaat kavache vishvamangale || 40 ||
guhyakaalyaam sadaa bhaktih shoDashaakshariko japah |
idam cha kavacham devi trayyeshaa kathitaa mayaa || 41 ||
abhyasyantah trayeemetaam chaturvarNaa dvijaatayah |
bhuktvaa bhogaanagham hatvaa dehaante
moksham aapnuyaat || 42 ||

|| iti mahaakaala samhitaayaam vishvamangala kavacham sampoorNam ||